The document provides a calendar of festivals and holidays celebrated throughout the year globally and in specific countries like the UK, US, Ireland and Wales. Key events mentioned include New Year's Eve/Day, Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day and Boxing Day. Many of the festivals have traditions associated with them like wearing shamrocks on St Patrick's Day, Easter egg hunts, pumpkin carving for Halloween and exchanging gifts on Christmas.

1. Festivals Calendar By Begoña Ruiz

2. January 31st December New Year’s Eve 1st New Year’s Day People welcome in the New Year on the night before. All over the UK and the United States there are parties, fireworks, singing and dancing, to ring out the old year and ring in the new. As the clock - Big Ben in London and Times Square in New York - strikes midnight, people link arms and sing a song called Auld Lang Syne. It reminds them of old and new friends.

3. February 14th Valentine's Day CARD We celebrate Valentines Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. Saint Valentine was a priest in Ancient Rome. The emperor decided that single men were better soldiers so he forbade marriage for young men. Valentine decided to marry young couples secretly.

4. March 1st St. David’s Day St David's Day is the patron saint of Wales. He spread the word of Christianity across Wales. The most famous story about Saint David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd and the ground is said to have risen up, so that he was standing on a hill and everyone had a better chance of hearing him. St David's Day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks. DAFFODIL

5. March 17th St. Patrick's Day SHAMROCKS LEPRECHAUN St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland . He is famous for bringing Christianity into Ireland, he used shamrock leaves to explain the meaning of the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). It is celebrated all around the world with people dancing and singing in Irish pubs, watching St. Patrick’s Day parade, drinking ‘green’ beer, wearing green clothes and having a good time. Children in Ireland have a tradition of pinching their friends who don’t wear green on this day!

6. April 1st April Fool's Day 23rd St. George’s Day In the Middle Ages, New Year was celebrated on April 1st. When it was changed to January 1st, many people did not hear of the change. They were called ‘April fools’ and people played tricks on them. Now it is an international festival of fun, with different nationalities celebrating the day in a special way. The best joke is the one where everyone laughs. St. George is the patron saint of England. He is famous for his fight with a dragon. It is a day for a red rose.

7. March or April Good Friday Easter Easter is the time when Christians remember the last week of Jesus' life, his death and coming to life again. It is traditional to eat warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday. Small chocolate eggs are hidden by Easter Bunny for the children to find on the Easter Egg Hunt. They also decorate eggs and they are rolled down a hill. HOT CROSS BUNS EASTER BUNNY EASTER EGGS

8. May 1st May Day The first day of the month of May is known as May Day. It is the time of year when warmer weather begins and flowers and trees start to blossom. It is said to be a time of love and romance. It is when people celebrate the coming of summer with lots of different customs, as floral decorations and processions through towns and villages, that are expressions of joy and hope after a long winter.

9. June 3rd Sunday Father’s Day 17th Trooping the colour It is a guardmen’s parade to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

10. July 4th Independence Day (USA) Independence Day is the birthday of the United States of America and is celebrated on the Fourth of July each year. Independence Day is the anniversary of the day on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the on July 4th, 1776.

11. August Last weekend Notting Hill Carnival It is a special festival in London.

12. September First Monday Labor Day (USA) This day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers.

13. October 31st Halloween Kids wear costumes. The favourites are monters and witches. They say ‘Trick or treat’ and people give them candies. They make Jack o’ lanterns with pumpkins. Halloween is the festival to scare. WITCH JACK O’ LANTERN

14. November 5th Bonfire Night 4th Thursday Thanksgiving Day It celebrates the Pilgrim’s first harvest in America. The traditional dinner is turkey and pumpkin pie. People travel long distances to see their families. Guy Fawkes tried to destroy the Houses of Parliament, he wanted to kill the king, but he didn’t. People in England celebrate it with a big bonfire. On top of the bonfire they put a man made of straw and old clothes. They burn the straw man and have fireworks .

15. December 24th Christmas Eve 25th Christmas Day 26th Boxing Day Christmas is the time when Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Christmas is a magical season, bringing families and friends together to share different traditions: the Christmas tree, crackers, kissing under the mistletoe. It is the time when Father Christmas / Santa Claus comes. Children hang their Christmas stockings up ready for Father Christmas, who will fill them up with presents. The children then go to sleep and wait for Christmas morning to see them. Children open their presents and families share a big traditional English Christmas lunch consists of roast turkey and stuffing, roast potatoes and vegetables, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding with brandy butter.